"I've heard voices in recent days, of all places voices coming from among us, that are trying to create conflict between us and the United States. It won't help them; the alliance between Israel and United States is strong," Netanyahu said at the cornerstone laying of a hospital in Ashdod.

Following Obama's reelection, former prime minister Ehud Olmert told Jewish community leaders in New York that "The prime minister has a right to prefer one candidate over another, but it would be better, obviously if he kept it to himself. What took place this time was a breaking of all the rules, when our prime minister intervened in the US elections in the name of an American billionaire," a reference to Jewish-American casino magnate and Netanyahu-ally Sheldon Adelson.

"Netanyahu's behavior in recent months brings up the question if
Netanyahu has a friend in the White House, and I'm not sure," Olmert
said. "This could be very critical in certain areas."

Olmert's associates have said that he will decide on his political future following the US election, and Obama's reelection is encouraging to the former prime minister. He is expected to make an announcement soon after he returns to Israel after November 15.